The fastest way depends on what you remember

If you have forgotten your administrator password, your next step depends on whether you can still log in to the computer at all, and whether you set up a password reset disk or recovery email when you first created the account. Windows and Mac both offer built-in recovery paths that do not require you to erase the drive or call a technician — but they only work if you prepared for this moment beforehand.

The method you use also depends on your operating system. Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac, and Linux each have different recovery tools. This guide covers the most common scenarios for Windows and Mac users, since those account for the majority of home computers.

Key Takeaways

  • If you set up a password reset disk or recovery email when you created your administrator account, you can use either one to reset your password without erasing your files.
  • Windows users without a reset disk can use a Microsoft account recovery email or phone number, or answer security questions if they set those up.
  • Mac users can use a recovery key, another administrator account, or Apple ID recovery if they enabled FileVault encryption.
  • If you have no recovery method in place, you will need to erase the drive and reinstall the operating system, which deletes all files on that drive.
  • The best time to prevent this problem is when ready after setting up a new computer — create a password reset disk and write down your recovery email address.

Windows: Using a password reset disk

A password reset disk is a USB drive you create while you still know your password. It stores an encrypted key that lets you reset your password without knowing the old one. If you created one when you first set up Windows, you can use it now.

Insert the USB drive into your computer. At the Windows login screen, click "I forgot my password" (on Windows 11) or "Reset password" (on Windows 10). Windows will walk you through selecting the USB drive and creating a new password. You do not need to know the old password. Once you set a new one, you can log in normally and all your files remain untouched.

If you did not create a reset disk, you cannot create one now — you need to know the old password to make one. Move to the next section.

Windows: Using your Microsoft account recovery options

If your administrator account is linked to a Microsoft account (which most Windows 10 and 11 users have), you can reset your password using the recovery email or phone number you registered with Microsoft. You will need access to that email account or phone.

Go to account.microsoft.com/security from another device. Sign in with your Microsoft email address and click "Security" in the left menu. Select "Password security" and choose "Change password." Microsoft will send a code to your recovery email or phone. Enter that code, and you can set a new password. The next time you try to log in to your Windows computer, use this new password.

This method only works if your Windows account is connected to a Microsoft account. If you set up a local account (one that does not use a Microsoft email), this path is not available to you.

Mac: Using a recovery key or another administrator account

Mac offers two built-in recovery methods if you have an administrator account but cannot remember the password. The first is a recovery key — a long string of characters that Apple generates when you first enable FileVault encryption. If you saved this key somewhere safe, you can use it to reset your password.

Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Click "Utilities" in the menu bar, then "Reset Password." Select your user account and choose "Reset using recovery key." Enter the recovery key, then set a new password. Your files stay intact.

If you do not have a recovery key, and you have another administrator account on the same Mac, you can log in with that account instead. Open System Settings, go to "General" then "Users & Groups" (or "Users & Groups" in System Preferences on older Macs), click the lock icon to unlock it, and select the account you forgot the password for. Click "Reset Password" and set a new one.

Mac: Using Apple ID if FileVault is enabled

If you enabled FileVault encryption on your Mac and linked it to your Apple ID, you can reset your password using that Apple ID. At the login screen, if you enter your password wrong several times, macOS will offer to reset it using your Apple ID.

Click "Reset using Apple ID" and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You will be asked to set a new administrator password. This method only works if FileVault was turned on before you forgot the password. If FileVault is not enabled, this option will not appear.

When you have no recovery method in place

If you did not create a password reset disk, do not have a recovery email set up, do not have another administrator account, and cannot access a recovery key, you will need to erase the drive and reinstall your operating system. This deletes all files on that drive, including documents, photos, and programs.

For Windows, you will need a Windows installation USB or DVD and a valid Windows product key. For Mac, you will need to restart in Recovery Mode (Command + R) and use Disk Utility to erase the drive, then reinstall macOS. Both processes take one to three hours depending on your internet speed and drive size.

This is why setting up a recovery method the day you get a new computer is worth the five minutes it takes. Once you have reset your password and regained access, when ready create a password reset disk (Windows) or save your recovery key somewhere safe (Mac).

How to prevent this from happening again

The moment you finish setting up a new computer, create a password reset disk on Windows or save your recovery key on Mac. Store the disk or a written copy of the key somewhere you will remember — a safe, a locked drawer, or a password manager that you back up separately.

For Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > "Create a password reset disk." For Mac, enable FileVault encryption (System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault) and save the recovery key that appears. Write it down or store it in a password manager.

If your computer is part of a workplace network, your IT department may have additional recovery options. Ask them whether they maintain a backup recovery method for your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset the password if I do not have physical access to the computer?

No. Password reset requires either physical access to the computer (to use a reset disk or enter Recovery Mode) or access to a linked email account or phone number. If someone else has the computer and you do not have those recovery methods, you cannot reset the password remotely.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No, not if you use a password reset disk, recovery key, or recovery email. Your files stay on the drive. Only if you erase the drive and reinstall the operating system will your files be deleted.

What if I remember part of the password but not all of it?

Windows and Mac do not offer a "hint" system that lets you guess. You either know the full password or you do not. If you cannot remember it completely, you will need to use one of the recovery methods described above.

Can I use someone else's password reset disk on my computer?

No. A password reset disk is tied to the specific user account and computer it was created on. You cannot use another person's reset disk on your account.

Is there a way to recover my password without resetting it?

No. Passwords are encrypted and stored in a way that makes them unrecoverable. The only option is to reset it to something new. This is a security feature — it prevents someone from reading your old password even if they access the computer's files.